According to Decrypt, Circle announced that DJ Khaled is joining the “Team USDC” designation in a social media post. The move prompted widespread criticism on crypto platforms. Critics highlighted that Circle did not explicitly state in its announcement that Khaled is being sponsored or officially endorsed by the company. In replies and online discussion, some users referenced Khaled’s 2018 SEC settlement related to promoting a cryptocurrency that turned out to be fraudulent. The reference drew attention because the SEC case involved Khaled’s promotion of a tokenized investment product lacking required disclosures. Circle’s post used the phrase “Team USDC” without additional context about sponsorship, partnership, or endorsement terms. Social media users noted the historical availability of past public records, including the SEC settlement, and pointed out that the information had been previously accessible. The reaction reflected concerns about associating a well-known figure with a major stablecoin issuer amid ongoing scrutiny of influencer involvement in crypto marketing. No official statement from Circle addressed the SEC matter or clarified the nature of Khaled’s association.
